San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-05-03

Hook to the pier il was almost unen-
durable. | was the first TO leap the gang
plank, and hurTying TO the hotel TO make
myself pres0ntable, | then went to her
villa. II WAS now dusk. She was wait
ing for me, and threw her arms about
my neck. This embrace from her who rep
resented all human love and goodness
made me almost deliriOus with joy.
could have given my life for her, as a
tritle. We sat in corner of the YER
anda and had talked for an hour, fixing
the wedding day, when gay butterfly
of a fellow passed out with two ladies.
Perceiving the white dress of Mary, for
that was her name, he called out TO her
some words which meant that he had
been alone with her at late hour the
night before, and would wait for her
that night also. He said, too, that she
had his ring. He spoke familiaTly,
wholly ignoring me. 1t is useless TO
speak of my shock; language would fail
me. was possessed by q thousand
devils. Yet her FEASIBILITY, her lie up
on lie, her sudden spasm Of pretended
love oyercame me. Then, succeeding
so well, she did a perilous thing-she
challenged me on the only point Of
proof, the ring. had given her pearl
Sliding the ring from her finger, she
suggested that | should strike light
and see for myself how the young man
had lied. OF course, she hoped would
not. But did so. The ring was an
amethyst, with strange initials. All
was plain. l caught her guilty look,
then the light went out. | flung away
the ring and rushed off. The horrors
of hell were about me. At the hotel |
got two fast horses and drove furiously
across the country to the Philadelphia
line, where | caught a train for New
York, reaching my office in the morn
ing. BY noon | had burnt my letters,
transferred my cases and exchanged my
books for passage to California. Three
hours later sailed for Panama.-Ofm my
work and position here, and my solitary
life, you know. have not been wO-
man hater-which means woman
wOrshipper turned infidel. But my idol
was now in the dust, and wanted no
other. Do ! weary your"
go on, please"
well, tonight | also went to Paul
MOxon's. heard the charming song
you spoke of. The voice thrilled me. |
got face to face view of the singer. 1t
was Mary Althorpe-my old love. All
my tenderness lived again. | could
scarcely wait. At the last word our
eyes met. What then-recognitiOn and
a wild embrace? My Godl She SILVER
ed, and with the same old guilty look
drew back. Before you could have
spoken | was OH the street. The mock
ing words of hooking hypocrite turn
ed my brain. | walked here. For two
hours have paced these sands in des-
pair. | sought this rock. If you had
come here but one moment later, l
should now be there! Petty, what do
You say 10 mef
For once Arthur Petty found himself
speeches.. He was in the shadow, or
John Dean might have seen that Petty's
face was as pale and troubled as his
own. They sat silent for some minutes.
VI must do my duty" thought Petty.
Then he said:
John Dean, can you bear the TRUTH
1T is killing me already"
mo, 1t is falsehOod which is killing
you"
How? What"
Listen. You are wrong. Your love
was right. The young man you saw
had then been at the house only a few
hours. He was friendly toward all the
ladies ana in love with none. In her
great loyalty to you your love said only
unpleasant things to him. He vowed
to annoy her in return--but only to an
nOy her, 1t happened towards dusk
that she dropped herring in the parlors.
This gentleman being present, sought
it, found it, and quietly offered his own
ring instead of hers: 1t was too dark
for her to see the difference. Besides,
you were at the gate and she ran to
meet you: The rest you know. She
told you strictly the truth as far as she
knew it, The playful young man never
had the faintest idea that he caused
any trouble, especially as the young
lady left next morning without his ever
seeing her again. He did not even re-
member her name, and had never heard
the name of her lover. But be sure that
he will go in sackclOth and ashes until
he sees everything settled again. John
Dean, it was 1 who exchanged the
ringsl"
For moment Dean glared at Petty
like a tiger, then sprang upon him,
throwing Petty from his seat and half
across the ratings. Petty was more
powerful man than Dean, but just now
Dean had the strength of madness: Fol
lowing up his movement he lifted Petty
from his feet and would have tumbled
him into the depths below had not Ar
thur clutched Deans coat, eXclalmlng:
Il deserve it; and, yet, told you"
BY one of those reyulSlOnS not uncom-
mon to madmen when flash lllumln-
ates the dark mind, Dean pulled Petty
back, grew gentle and offered both
hands, saying:
Yes, you told me. Forgive me,